The Innkeeper's Wife: A Friendship Like No Other by author Joan T. Broussard is a book that most readers will find lovely and very enjoyable, retelling the story of Jesus' birth from the viewpoint of the fictional Gertrude, the wife of the innkeeper. Gertrude's life had been very busy, especially with all the people coming to Bethlehem to participate in the mandatory census decreed by King Herod. But she still prays for one thing that's been missing from her life, a true friend. When her husband, the innkeeper, turns a young couple away from the inn one night when they are full, only allowing them to stay in the inn's stable, Gertrude is horrified, especially after she realizes that the young woman is pregnant. And when a baby boy is born in the manger that night, Gertrude can't imagine the journey this very child will take her on, one of conversion, love and sacrifice, and a new understanding of God.

I very much enjoyed The Innkeeper's Wife. This story was beautifully written, and from a perspective that many would never have considered - that of a commoner looking in at the birth of Christ. Author Joan T. Broussard has presented this well known and loved episode of Jesus' life in a creative and unique way that will warm their hearts and bring tears to their eyes at times. It is easy for me to give this book my highest recommendation, especially for those who enjoy Christian fiction. I will keep my eyes peeled for another such work by author Joan T. Broussard. If it's anything like The Innkeeper's Wife, it will absolutely be worth a read!

In Joan T. Broussard’s book, The Innkeeper’s Wife: A Friendship Like No Other, the author puts forward a captivatingly different idea for understanding the Bible, in particular the New Testament, and by doing so, moving closer to God. Ms Broussard does it in a fictional way, using a character named Gertrude who expresses herself in the first person. Through Gertrude, she tells the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the virgin birth, through the visits of the shepherds and the Magi, and the flight to Egypt, to His return to the land of His birth and His ultimate sacrifice and beyond. Each chapter is prefaced by Bible quotes and there are questions suggested for group discussion at the end, in addition to Ms Broussard’s personal journal explaining what led to the conception of “Gertrude.”

Joan T. Broussard’s fictional Gertrude takes on the persona of the Bethlehem innkeeper’s wife, giving the reader a fascinating glimpse into her relationship with her husband, Eli, and the tempestuous times in which they lived, ruled by King Herod. Childless herself, the innkeeper’s wife fights jealousy before she comes to accept that she has been privileged to deliver Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world. Joan T. Broussard’s presentation of the Jewish faith and customs are so accurate that they made me imagine how I might have felt in Gertrude’s shoes. The Innkeeper’s Wife is a unique way of encouraging Bible study; it is thought-provoking, and a delight to read.

The Innkeeper's Wife: A Friendship Like No Other by Joan T. Broussard is the story of a faithful woman whose faith and belief brought her a new life filled with miracles and wonder. The reader is taken back in time to when Herod is the king. He has ordered a census and the city of Bethlehem is bustling with people. An innkeeper’s wife, Gertrude, is thankful for all the business, but she also prays for a friend who will help her. She has no idea what God has planned for her and which friend He has chosen for her. When her husband turns a couple away, with the woman visibly pregnant, Gertrude is furious. She wants to help the woman. She has no idea that her one small act of kindness will open new doors and pave the way to a new life for her that she never knew she could have.

Okay, so there are some compliments that I want to dish out. First of all, I absolutely love the cover. I actually just have to confess that it was the cover that drew me into the novel. We all know about the birth of Jesus Christ, we have read and heard the story a hundred times, but never like this. This was a fresh perspective, one filled with courage, faith, and belief. I liked how it paved the way for the bigger picture and how it always led to God. This was a truly riveting, brilliant read.

Gertrude has lived a calm and peaceful life as the wife of an innkeeper, but things change quite suddenly during the time of the census, which leads to a young couple staying in the stable. But there is something even more amazing about the young couple, something that Gertrude learns when she witnesses the birth of their baby. But when things in her beautiful town start to change with the news of this miracle child’s birth, she is left with a choice to make; to live with what has been done, or to follow her heart, and her husband’s instructions, to follow the young family where they choose to go in The Innkeeper’s Wife.

This book was an interesting one that drew my attention right from the start. Gertrude and Eli seemed like a normal couple that you could easily relate to. It’s also a new take on a story that just about everyone has heard at least a few times before. With this version, you learn more about many of the different characters in the story, although through the eyes of just one important character. Mary, Joseph, and their young baby are characters you will want to learn more about and this book lets you do just that, witnessing the journey of Gertrude through her pious start and further. This book will definitely help you to better understand what faith truly is and how it starts in The Innkeeper’s Wife by Joan Broussard.